Hydrometer float



Sept. 4; 1934. l.. EDELMANN HYDROMETER FLOAT Filed May l5, 1950 .it5515/54;555545? Saisir n I N VEN TOR. [ed 'dehnmzn/ A I BY d 62% A TTORNEY.

. of manufacture progresses;

'Patentedv Sept. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES HYDROMETER FLOAT Leo Edelmann, Chicago, Ill., assigner to E. Edelmann & Co., Chicago, Ill.,l a corporation of Illinois 4 n Application May 15, 1930, serial No. 452,692'

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in hydrometer lioats and particularly to a float Yintended and adapted for use in connection with a battery tester, freeze tester, or other like instrument.

An object of my invention is to provide' a lioat gauge element of such form and construction that it can be produced of a phenolic condensation product or other readily molded and formed material less frangible than the ordinary glass iioat and better adapted to take and show graduating indications. I

Another object is to so construct the float that ballast material can be readily and quickly inserted and the float can then be readily closed or sealed to be complete for use, Without requiring the service of a glass blower or other skilled Worker.

Still another object is to provide an instrument of this sort thatv can be more readily and accurately manufactured and can thus be more quickly calibrated and prepared for use.

With the above and other objects in view, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, my invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter set forth in connection with the drawing and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective showing a float element constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modied construction.

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views through iioat bulb portions showing other possible modifications.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating still another modification. f

As hydrometer iioat elements are now constructed, it is customary to make the same from sections of glass tubing of dierent sizes welded together, and to shape up the parts as the process This requires that Wafer-thick glass tubing be used and that skilled glass workers be employed in the process of manufacture, and the uniformity'of the iinished glass bodies will depend much uponk the exact character of the particular quantity of glass tubing and upon the particular work done. Further, where glass is used, it is customary to insert apaper or other printed scale strip within an open end of the gauge stem of the neat, and then seal this end by fusion, removing any surplus length of the individual items, and kto providefor ready placefment of ballast weight Withinthe iioat and sub- -any other matter that it may be desired to show upon or in connection with the iioat.

gauge stem. These operations necessarily cause variation in the action of the float elements as the two steps must be carried out following initial calibration and placement of ballast weight.. The

only Way this can be overcome is by etching or f60 lotherwise marking the scale indications upon the exterior of the glass oat stem, and this process of course presents commercial diiculties.' With the above in mind, it is my purpose to provide a iioat element made of a phenolick condensation product or otherl like material that can be readily m'oldedior otherwise formed to permit manufacture of commercial quantities of iioat structures withinfvery narrow limits of variation as to the 7 sequent closing of the same; and, also to provide for ready display of the independentscales, the name of the manufacturers, special directions, or

In the adaptation of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 IV have shown a oat element of substantially usual form. The oat portion l is molded or otherwise shaped and formed from a phenolic condensation product or other suitable or similar materials that Will permit construction of this part of suiiicient thinness to float and yet with suiiicient strength to withstand the jars and shocks of use. This float portion might 1 have one or more rows of spacing points 3 cast or otherwise formed thereon to project laterally in the usual manner, and at its upper end the iioat portion is open and is provided with a reinforcing shoulder 2. QO

A stem 4, made up of a metal tube or other suitable member, is cast into the shoulder 2 or is otherwise secured in place to extend axially at the upper end of the float portion 1, this tubular stem 4 having the opening therethrough of Q95 sufficient size for ready insertion of the ballast material.

A sleeve 5, of a phenolic condensation product or other similar or suitable material is fitted over the stem 4, and this sleeve 5 has the scale indica-f` 100 tions thereon.

In constructing my improved float element, the parts will be assembled as set forth above, and shot and wax, or other suitable ballast material is poured through the opening of stem 4 to col-3105 lect in the lower end of the oat portion 1, as indicated at 6. When the-instrument has been properly'calibrated, the kopen upper end of the passage can be closed by the use of solder or other material as indicated at 7. It may be? 110 fies? found desirable to insert a small quantity of cotton Waste or other material Within the passage as shown at 8 prior to the application of the closing material to prevent the same from Yrunning through the passage in the stem. When the solder or other material is applied a slight portion of the same Will extend beyond the top edge of the stem portion 4 and will serve to securely mount the sleeve 5 in place..

The float element thus constructed can have any desirable scale indications placed upon the stem thereof, as indicated at 9, and even upon the body portion, such indications to be-etched,

or stampedin, molded out, or otherwise applied or displayed, and likewise it will be'app'reciated that the name of the manufacturer, directions, and any other material or illustration might be applied to the float bulb portion.

With a float constructed in this manner it is possible to mold the body portions to keep the same much more accurately within size and weight limits so that it will be commercially practical to mold the scale indications upon the stem 5 in the initial forming operation; the desired amount of ballast can be readily inserted through the open end of the stem Without necessity of exercising special care to prevent contact with inner walls ofthe stem or float portion, and the open end of the stem can then be closed Without requiring the service of a specially skilled workman and Without materially varying the Weight of the instrument from the Weight determined by insertion of ballast.

As shown in Fig. 3, thefloat portion 10 might be made substantially square in cross section so that longitudinal edges will be'presented to lessen contact with the hydrometer barrel or other container in which the oat is used, and thev stem 1l might also be made of any desired polygonal form in cross-section to present flat sides on which scale markings could be shown.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated the float portion 14 as triangular in 4cross section and With this form thel edgesvvouldzrbe p resentedito lessen contact with 'the hydrometer.' barrel or other container.

Fig. 5 villi-istrates another construction of the float portion to provide edges around the float portion to lessen `frictional contact, which edges l5 might extend along substantially the entire length Vof the float portion or might be continued only over a short portion lof the length as illustrated in Fig. 6.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a hydrometer float element of such form and construction that it vcan be readily cast, molded or otherwise formed from phenolic condensation products and other suitable like materials to give greater accuracy than'is now possible by Yusual methods of forming hydrometer iioats and which will not require the service of specially skilled artisans in assembling and completing the floats. Y f

While I have herein shown and described only certain specific embodiments of my invention and have suggested only certain possible modiiications, it Wil-l be appreciated that other changes and variations. can be made in the form, construction, a1'- rangement, and assembly of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim 1.

l. A hydrometer float element comprising, Ya float portion of a moldable material, a tubular stem molded into said float portion to extend upwardly therefrom with its tubular passage opening into the oat, a sleeve having gauge markings Vthereon mounted on said tubularstem, and plug means fitted inthe open end of said tubular stem and having portions extendedto engage with said sleeve toV hold the Vsleeve against shifting and displacement.

v v 72. A hydrometer float element comprising, a 'float portion of moldable material', such as phenolic condensation product closed at one encL a tubular stem of metallicv material molded in said float portion opposite the closed end with the tubular passage thereof opening into thefloat, a gauge stem also of a moldable material such as phenolic condensation product provided with a 1"" passage to receive the metallic stem andhaving gauge markings on its outer surface, anda plug having a portion insertable in the. outer end of the tubular stem to close the same and provided with a headed portion engaging the outer end of the i' gauge stem to hold the same against endwise shifting and displacement.

LEO EDELMANN. 

